There
were ultimately two
different versions
of Cobra Command
released in the
1980ís, and we will
cover them both
here. The first
version, also known
as Thunder Storm
(Japan), was a Data
East laser disc
based game released
in 1984. Like other
similar games, such
as Firefox, this
game was an
interactive movie
where the cross
hairs of the gun,
and the enemies,
were digitized
elements transposed
over live action
scenery. In the
1984 version, only
the pilot of the
infamous Cobra
Command can
eliminate the
amassing evil
terrorist group
threatening to take
over the world.
Flying through
various terrains,
from the perspective
of the cockpit, the
player avoids the
terrain while
battling baddies.

The
1988 version, also
produced by Data
East, was a side-scroller
whereby the pilot
flies a heavily
armored helicopter
through six stages,
blowing up enemy
tanks, gunboats, and
submarines. There
was a NES 8 bit
version of this game
that many of you may
be more familiar
with, the biggest
difference being the
game did not
automatically
scroll, and the
player was required
to rescue hostages,
much like Choplifter.